Weekly Bulletin: Friday 9th December 2022
Headteacher’s message to parents/carers
Dear parents/carers,
What a fabulous week in school – we have all been very busy, with some lovely Christmas events to share.
On Wednesday, we all walked over to Walderslade Baptist Church for three very special Advent assemblies with Reverend Roe. All classes attended as part of their phase groups (Year R-1, 2-4 and 5-6), as we can’t all fit into the church together. It’s been a few years since we last visited the church in this way, so it is a great pleasure to be able to do so again. Children loved the calm, peaceful atmosphere in church and they listened beautifully throughout the services. Reverend Roe told us about Advent and the meaning of the Christmas story. Children will remember the moment when all the lights were turned off, the church was lit just by candlelight and Reverent Roe lit two of the Advent candles on the Advent wreath. On our travels to and from church, children were complimented for their wonderful manners and behaviour – great job, Team Tunbury! Thank you Reverend Roe for your warm welcome.
Also this week, Reception classes performed their very first Christmas Nativity, which was absolutely wonderful. Children shared their Nativity with parents/carers on Wednesday, and we were also delighted to welcome our two neighbouring pre-schools, Catkins and Smilers, to see the Nativity on Tuesday and Thursday. Siblings of children in Reception also watched a performance with our pre-school visitors, so our youngest children were quite the performers this week! We were all so impressed with their confidence, participation and brilliant songs and actions. Children worked very hard to learn their parts and we are so proud of them – fabulous work everyone.
On Thursday, we held our termly music concert - congratulations to everyone who performed and thank you parents/carers for joining us. Singers from Mrs Hyde’s singing lessons performed a beautiful rendition of ‘When Christmas Comes to Town’ and four brilliant iRock bands performed on keyboard, drums, guitar and vocals. Rock stars of the future! A fantastic array of musical talent – awesome work, musicians!
We finished the week with today’s Christmas Jumper day and Christmas lunch. Children (and staff) look very festive indeed and we’re all set for a busy Christmas lunchtime. Lots of crackers and plenty of gravy – thank you to our wonderful kitchen colleagues for looking after us so well, as always. For Christmas Jumper day, if you would like to make a donation to Save the Children, you can do so at our Tunbury page: Christmas Jumper Day 2022 is raising money for Save The Children!
Have a lovely weekend everyone. Enjoy the football (I know many of our children will be cheering England on) and the Christmas countdowns! We look forward to seeing children back in school on Monday for the last week of term.
Best wishes
Ruth Austin
Headteacher
Year 5 Space Day!
On Tuesday, a giant dome arrived at Tunbury, large enough to accommodate the whole year group at the same time. Once inside, we had an amazing light show, consolidating our learning on this term’s topic of ‘Out of this World.’ We saw how the constellations ‘appear’ to move around the sky due to the Earth’s rotation.
“I didn’t know that there were so many different constellations in the sky, as we are only see a selection of them.” (Amelia).
“It was clear to see how some of the constellations got their names according to the pattern that the stars made.” (Fraser)
“The Astonomy Roadshow helped me to really understand why we have different time zones around the world.” (Fraser)
Once back on the outside, we were able to see how space buggies were actually transported to the moon by being folded up to take up the least amount of space. We even got to handle a variety of rocks and meteorites from space.
Magenta Class
Notices
Admissions for children starting school in September 2023: Applications for a primary school place should be made via your ‘home’ local authority.
- Kent residents apply at www.kent.gov.uk/education-and-children/schools/school-places . You must apply by Monday 16th January.
- Medway residents apply at www.medway.gov.uk/admissions . You must apply by Sunday 15th January.
We have arranged one final New Entrants meeting and tour for any parents/carers who may have missed our earlier events. This will be at 2pm on Monday 9th January. To book onto this session, please contact the school office on office@tunbury.kent.sch.uk
Please contact us at school if you cannot make this date, would like to re-visit the school or have any further questions. We would be happy to help.
Singing Club Carolling: As part of the Walderslade Community, to spread some Christmas cheer, our KS2 Singing Club will be heading to the Walderslade Village next Thursday 15th December to sing some Christmas carols. The children will be singing from 10am outside of the Co-op. It would be lovely if some of you come and see us!
Kent Family Learning Courses: We still have some spaces remaining for the Happy Thoughts Jar family course on the 13th January. Details of a new course on offer are also below. Posters with further details for both are available in the Parents > letters and forms section of our website.
Happy Thoughts/Memories Jar – Friday 13th January at 9:30am (2 hours)
This course gives the opportunity for you and your child to look back through some memories to create a jar filled with happy thoughts.
First Aid for families – Tuesday 17th, Tuesday 24th and Tuesday 31st January at 9:30am (2 hours)
This course is perfect for you and your child to learn the first aid basics and what to do in a medical emergency. This is held over three sessions across three weeks, all two hours long. If you book a place, please ensure you can attend all three sessions.
The spaces are limited with only 24 available for each course. Spaces are not per family, they are per child and adult. A maximum of 2 parents/carers can accompany each child. If you would like to book a space, please email office@tunbury.kent.sch.uk with your name, child’s name and class, the name of the course you would like to attend and the number of adults attending with each child. Places will be filled on a first come, first served basis. Please only request one course per child. Thank you.
Payment for TCS school lunches: With effect from the start of Term 3, Wednesday 4th January, the school kitchen will no longer be taking cash payments. Please pay for school lunches online via Parentmail.
Team Points: With just one week to go, Hawking have taken the lead – well done! Can you hold on until the end of term?
Dates for your Diary
Term dates for 2022/23: https://www.tunbury.kent.sch.uk/Term-Dates-22-23/
Tuesday 13th December - Christmas Performance Year 1, 2.30pm
Thursday 15th December – Christmas Performance Year 2, 2.00pm
Thursday 15th December – Carols on the Playground Y3/4, 2.55pm
Friday 16th December – Carols on the Playground Y5/6, 2.55pm
Friday 16th December – Last day of term 2 for pupils
Tuesday 3rd January – INSET Day – School Closed for pupils
Wednesday 4th January – First day of term 3 for pupils
Wednesday 4th January – WW2 Workshop – Year 6
Monday 9th January – New Entrants meeting and tour for Reception places, 2.00 – NEW
Tuesday 24th January – Young Voices Concert at the O2 (Singing Club)
Monday 30th January – Open afternoon YR: 2-3pm
Tuesday 31st January – Open afternoon Y1 / Y2: 2-3pm
Wednesday 1st February – Open afternoon Y3 / Y4: 2-3pm
Thursday 2nd February – Open afternoon Y5 / Y6: 2-3pm
Friday 3rd February – National Number Day
Tuesday 7th February – Safer Internet Day
Friday 10th February – Last day of term 3 for pupils
Monday 20th February - INSET Day – School Closed for pupils
Tuesday 21st February – Start of term 4 for pupils
Thursday 23rd February - Parent consultation evening – 3.30-6.30pm
Tuesday 28th February - Parent consultation evening – 3.30-6.30pm
Friday 17TH March – National Science Day
Monday 20th March – Francophonie Day
Thursday 30th March - IRock Performance to parents am
Friday 31st March – Last day of term 4 for pupils
Monday 17th April – First day of term 5 for pupils
Monday 1st May - Bank Holiday – School Closed
May – Year 2 (KS1) SATs
Monday 8th May – Bank Holiday in honour of the Coronation of His Majesty King Charles III
Tuesday 9th – Friday 12th May – Year 6 (KS2) SATs
Friday 19th May – Y5 Visit to Maidstone Museum
Monday 22nd– Friday 26th May – Outdoor learning week
Friday 26th May – Last day of term 5 for pupils
Monday 5th June - INSET Day – School Closed for pupils
Tuesday 6th June – First day of term 6 for pupils
Tuesday 6th- Friday 9th June – STEAM week
w/c Tuesday 6th June – Year 4 Multiplication Times Tables check
w/c Monday 12th June – Year 1 Phonics check
Friday 30th June – Sports Day
Friday 7th July – Reserve Sports Day
Friday 21st July – Last day of term/academic year for pupils
Class assemblies
Class assemblies will be held in the school hall on Friday afternoons. Parents/carers and family members from each class are warmly invited to join us in school for these events, as our children love to share their learning with you. Please come to the front of the school and wait outside the hall entrance doors. You will be invited in at approximately 2.45 pm. The assembly will begin at 2.50 pm and last for about 10 minutes, finishing in time for you to collect your children at the end of the school day, as normal.
Friday 9th December Magenta Class Assembly
Friday 13th January Blue Class Assembly
Friday 20th January Violet Class Assembly
Friday 27th January Orange Class Assembly
Friday 3rd February Scarlet Class Assembly
Friday 10th February Amber Class Assembly
Friday 3rd March Lavender Class Assembly
Friday 10th March Yellow Class Assembly
Friday 17th March Crimson Class Assembly
Friday 24th March Turquoise Class Assembly
Friday 31st March Ruby Class Assembly
Friday 28th April Sapphire Class Assembly
Friday 5th May Pink Class Assembly
Friday 12th May Red Class Assembly
Friday 19th May Bears Assembly
Friday 26th May Owls Assembly
Friday 16th June Hedgehogs Assembly
